LASG Sets to Remodel PHCs, Promote Inclusive Healthcare
As part of its basket of ideas, Lagos State Government is set to remodel Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to promote inclusive healthcare delivery among residents and redirect patients influx to General Hospitals and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi disclosed this during a media chat to unbundle the programmes of the government on healthcare, to allay the fears of Nigerians on the recent outbreaks of infectious diseases and to seek for more private partnership in healthcare financing.
LASG To Involve More Private Partners In Healthcare Delivery
Abayomi in answering questions from Journalists said, as a thematic programme of Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, a new model to upgrade existing PHCs would see a conscious equipping of one healthcare centre per ward, open at least a flagship PHC per Local Government area which means that in addition to the existing 28, more healthcare centres would be upgraded at the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and ensure there is appropriate channeling of patients to the PHCs with supply of doctors to meet their needs.
Abayomi who noted that the skewed nature of healthcare delivery among residents is responsible for the patients surge at General Hospitals as well as LASUTH which has insufficient bed space to meet patients requirement added that the present administration is embarking on a deliberate remodelling plan to meet with the reality of the times.
Although he laments that the remodelling project which would see healthcare closer to the people is estimated to cost between N50-N60bn which government cannot afford in view of competing needs, he said there will bea drive to get more private partners to buy-in and support government to provide good health services to Nigerians in Lagos State.
Abayomi noted that Lagos is committed to drive the State Health Insurance Scheme and is soon to role out more partnership involvement in making the Scheme easily accessible especially through enrolment of more private clinics “as our public healthcare centres are not enough to service the bulging population of the state which he said currently stands at about 22m.
The Commissioner pointed out that the state is unaware of its peculiar role model status in the country and is poised to restore the glory through consistent funding of healthcare from the 2019 budgeted 9% to meet the 15% World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation as well as improve on the Biosecurity safety of residents from man-made disasters such as which lead to flooding from blocked drains.
The commissioner though bemoaned the non-existence of a blueprint on Eco-design for the state’s healthcare facilities to make them more user-friendly, said, the ministry is poised to support the design of one “for the sake of patients care in our public hospitals”.
He linked the 3-prong Theme approach of Health, Agriculture and Environment of the State government as the driving force to promote sustainable living condition and stem bio-degradation from human activities in the state.
The Professor of Pathology and Haematology, has assured residents of Lagos that the recent isolation of Monkey Pox in the state is under control while the ministry is underwatch of the current flooding of some parts of the state monitoring any outbreak of waterborne disease.